Lessons 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13: Directional complements: 下去, 出来, 起来 and 过

V/Adj + 下去 (continuing), V + 下, V + 过, and choosing the directional complements 出来, 起来, 下来 according to context.

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请听他说下去。

Qǐng tīng tā shuō xiàqu.

Please listen to him go on speaking.

Explanation

Verb + 下去 indicates an action that continues into the future (开展下去, 说下去); the negative is 说不下去.

Adjective + 下去 describes a state that already exists and continues to develop, stressing its continued development. The adjective here usually has a negative sense (冷下去, 瘦下去, 暗下去).

Verb + 下 as a resultative complement expresses completion, holding, or receiving (收下, 买下, 留下). The verb 过 as a resultative complement expresses "getting through, achieving the goal": 瞒过父母, 骗过国王, 考过八十分.

In addition, the textbook's practice exercises ask you to choose directional complements by context: 出来 (an action that produces a result: 吹出来, 写出来, 装出来), 起来 (站起来, 振作起来), 下来 (背下来, 拍下来), 上 / 去 ... The textbook gives no separate explanation of this part, so these practice items rely on answers inferred from context.

Structure

1
Vverb下去 / V不下去
An action that continues into the future.
- 请听他说下去。
  Qǐng tīng tā shuō xiàqu.
  Please listen to him go on speaking.
- 她哭得说不下去了。
  Tā kū de shuō bu xiàqu le.
  She cried so hard she couldn't go on speaking.
- 虽然遇到了一点儿困难，但是我们公司的业务还要开展下去。
  Suīrán yùdào le yìdiǎnr kùnnan, dànshì wǒmen gōngsī de yèwù hái yào kāizhǎn xiàqu.
  Although we've run into some difficulties, our company's work still has to keep moving forward.
2
Adjadjective下去
A state that keeps developing; the adjective usually has a negative sense.
- 天气要是这么冷下去，我可受不了了。
  Tiānqì yàoshi zhème lěng xiàqu, wǒ kě shòu bu liǎo le.
  If the weather stays this cold, I can't stand it.
- 你不能再瘦下去了，应该多吃点儿。
  Nǐ bù néng zài shòu xiàqu le, yīnggāi duō chī diǎnr.
  You can't get any thinner; you should eat more.
- 它留下的光束在空中亮了半天才一点点地暗下去。
  Tā liúxià de guāngshù zài kōngzhōng liàng le bàntiān cái yìdiǎndiǎn de àn xiàqu.
  The beam of light it left stayed bright in the air for a long time before gradually darkening.
- 我们两国的关系只能好起来，不能坏下去。
  Wǒmen liǎng guó de guānxi zhǐ néng hǎo qǐlai, bù néng huài xiàqu.
  The relationship between our two countries can only get better, not keep getting worse.
3
Vverb下 (bổ ngữ kết quả)
Completion, holding, receiving.
- 国王相信了他的话，就收下了他。
  Guówáng xiāngxìn le tā de huà, jiù shōuxià le tā.
  The king believed his words, so he accepted him.
- 我把这套房子买下了。
  Wǒ bǎ zhè tào fángzi mǎixià le.
  I have already bought this house.
- 这是我们送给你的生日礼物，请你收下吧。
  Zhè shì wǒmen sòng gěi nǐ de shēngrì lǐwù, qǐng nǐ shōuxià ba.
  This is a birthday gift from us to you; please accept it.
- 这些东西我都用不着了，都给你留下吧。
  Zhèxiē dōngxi wǒ dōu yòng bu zháo le, dōu gěi nǐ liúxià ba.
  I don't need these things anymore; I'm leaving them all to you.
4
Vverb出来 / 起来 / 下来 (chọn theo ngữ cảnh)
Examples taken from the full sentences in the textbook's exercises and examples.
- 她说着说着突然笑了起来。
  Tā shuōzhe shuōzhe tūrán xiào le qǐlai.
  She was in the middle of talking when she suddenly burst out laughing.
- 我把这里的景色拍了下来。
  Wǒ bǎ zhèlǐ de jǐngsè pāi le xiàlai.
  I photographed the scenery here.
5
Vverb过 (bổ ngữ kết quả)
Getting through, achieving the goal.
- 骗过国王
  piàn guò guówáng
  Fooled the king
- 瞒过父母
  mán guò fùmǔ
  Hid it from his parents
- 考过八十分
  kǎo guò bāshí fēn
  Scored eighty points on the exam

Usage notes

过 as a resultative complement (瞒过, 骗过) means "getting through, achieving the goal", different from 过 indicating experience (去过).
With a directional complement, the verb goes before 下来: 拍了下来; don't add another verb like 拍照下来.

Practice

29 questions in 3 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

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